Dedicated Gigabyte EP45-DQ6 thread

[Richard Dower]

Starting a fresh thread for this mobo, i am gonna be throwing alot of info, pics and reviews at you. I'll also be adding bios and driver updates as and when they appear...stay tuned


The EP45-DQ6 is at the high end of Gigabyte's P45 lineup and has a number of improvements in PCB design over previous generations. One feature that has long been requested by overclockers is power/reset and clear CMOS buttons on the PCB, thus it's no longer nesscary to short the mobo's bios using the old style 2pin header.

A full featured motherboard which includes four 10/100/1000 Mbit LAN ports which use a "teaming" feature to increase throughput. Also a new hardware based TPM (Trusted Platform Module) by Infineon features 2048bit encryption and is TPM 1.2 spec compliant.

10 SATA ports are included, 6 ports (yellow)controlled by the Intel ICH10R Southbridge while a further four SATA ports (purple) are controlled by two hardware based Silicon Image SiI5723 chipsets...both of which are then linked to the Jmicron JMB363 chipset (labeled Gigabyte SATA 2).



http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles...?cid=6&id=2559

http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles...?cid=6&id=2557

http://www.computex.biz/BestChoice20...5&index1=17420

http://www.xfastest.com/viewthread.p...a=&page=1#zoom

http://www.beareyes.com.cn/2/lib/200...80512133_1.htm

http://www.pcgameshardware.de/aid,64...icle_id=643165

http://www.tweaktown.com/news/9422/m..._hq/index.html

http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/14...dq6/index.html

http://bbs.cpcw.com/viewthread.php?t...age%3D2&page=1




I'll also discuss the various onboard chips and links to info about them, we'll start with the onboard IDT 89HPES16T7ZHBXG PCI-E switch chip:

http://www.idt.com/?partID=89HPES16T7ZHBXG

Silicon Image SiI5723 chip: http://www.siliconimage.com/products...ct.aspx?id=103

SteelVine software/drivers for XP/Vista: http://www.siliconimage.com/docs/57x...ne_V5.1.24.zip

Jmicrom JMB363: http://www.jmicron.com.tw/Product_JMB363.htm

JMB363 drivers for XP/Vista: ftp://driver.jmicron.com.tw/jmb36x/W....17.37WHQL.zip

Realtek 889A HD audio codec (no specs or info is available at the website) drivers for XP/Vista: http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/...&GetDown=false

Realtek 8111C NIC: http://www.realtek.com.tw/products/p...n=4&ProdID=142
Latest drivers for XP/Vista: http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/...&GetDown=false

ITE IT8720 Super I/O chip: http://www.ite.com.tw/ite_news/press2_20071211.asp

Intersil ISL6322 chip, there are two separate chips on the PCB controlling the memory and NB: http://www.intersil.com/cda/devicein...SL6322,00.html

Intersil ISL6336, 6 phase PWM for the power regulation "virtual 12 phase": http://www.intersil.com/cda/devicein...SL6336,00.html

Pericom PI2PCIE2412ZHE PCI-E switch: http://www.pericom.com/products/swit...p/PI2PCIE2412/

ITE IT8268R, basically an overclock controller...no official specs are listed at ITE but the closest model can be found here: http://www.ite.com.tw/product_info/P...f-IT820x_2.asp

Texas Instruments TSB43AB23 1394a controller; http://focus.ti.com/docs/prod/folder...tsb43ab23.html




Here you can view another revision of the PCB, this was shown at tested at the recent Gigabyte "plug fest": http://www.tweaktown.com/news/9373/m...yte/index.html

[Richard Dower]

Details of the packaging have been revealed: http://en.hardspell.com/doc/showcont.asp?news_id=3425

http://it.eviewweek.com/china/n88157p1.shtml

[Richard Dower]

Some places listing the board as available from June 5th onwards:

http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=354381

http://www.norek.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=354381

http://www.awd-it.com/scripts/prodVi...+Socket+LGA775

[Richard Dower]

Some new promo slides appeared today: http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=280577

[Richard Dower]

The EP45-DQ6 is now listed on the Gigabyte website: http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/...ProductID=2831

http://my.ocworkbench.com/2008/compu...8/part1/g9.htm

@BIOS version 2.0: http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/M...lity&FileID=52
Dynamic Energy Saver Advanced: http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/M...lity&FileID=88
Ultra TPM: http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/M...lity&FileID=87
EasyTune6: http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/M...lity&FileID=86
Face Wizard: http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/M...lity&FileID=46

[Vivi]

Honestly now , were do you get ddr2 1400?

Nice find, good read

[vcp-cur]

I still think that this looks way better

[R@ptor =]]]

What is the price of this motherboard ( maximus II formula ) ???
i will buy P5q deluxe, gigabyte ep45 ds4 or maximus II formula...
i can't pay more than R$650,00

[Richard Dower]

The price is around €200-230...i've seen one vendor list the price at €224 minus shipping. It's best to wait for stock and more vendors to have boards on sale.

[Ace-a-Rue]

I still think that this looks way better

that is COOL!...ME LIKE!

[WhiteFireDragon]

what is the point of 4 LAN ports?? only need one for internet right?

[MomijiTMO]

Saves you buying a NIC card when you connect your workstation pcs together.

PS : Trust Richard to make this thread

[WhiteFireDragon]

Saves you buying a NIC card when you connect your workstation pcs together.

ok so continuing the newb question. basically a cable modem could be connected to this mobo and it could be used as a router to share internet and files?

[MomijiTMO]

Yeah. It's overkill I know.

I wonder if you could use two or more lanes to double the bandwidth? You can't do that with most boards.

[noneed4me2]

If it doesn't run 2x16x on the 2.0 slots I mean whats the point? I get how awesome the P35 was but the X38/X48 kinda out spec this and unless its priced to compete with those chipsets it kinda defeats itself imo. The boards do look nice though, also they look like they are running 3 phase pwr on the north bridge and maybe 2+phase pwr on the DDR2 slots sorta like the P5E3 Premium. I just don't see why they didn't make them full 32 lanes dedicated to pcie.

[ctgilles]

what is the point of 4 LAN ports?? only need one for internet right?

4x LAN = 4x :banana::banana::banana::banana:! Man I need one now

[MomijiTMO]

Oh man, now I wish I didn't get my DFI X48. Look at all the stuff you get with it? I got . . . . some SATA and IDE cables. Oh yay. =\

[Richard Dower]

Another retailer with boards due soon, but €250 shipped???????

http://www.dabs.ie/productview.aspx?...0%2c4294952507

[MomijiTMO]

Crikey mate. That's retarded.

[zsamz_]

I still think that this looks way better

that is 1 sick looking board way to go asus

[vcp-cur]

yeah it looks really nice...

[R@ptor =]]]

Anybody knows, what is the price for giga ep45 ds4??
thanks!

[Richard Dower]

Guys, can we please keep the Asus stuff off this thread. This is about the Gigabyte EP45-DQ6 and no ther brand...thank you.
Couple of driver updates for you, don't download any drivers off the Gigabyte website as they are all old and obsolete. This thread will be your #1 stop to find the very latest drivers available.

Official Intel Software Installation Utility, version 9.0.0.1008, June 2nd 2008: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/filt...bmit=Go%21

Official Intel Matrix Storage Manager, version 8.2.0.1001 dated June 2nd 2008: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/filt...3&submit=Go%21

[dannyuk32]

Richard when these boards get released PLEASE start a thread with the title showing all the models, not just the top one with the dumb crazy cool and other 'cooling features' .

[REVHEAD]

Richard when these boards get released PLEASE start a thread with the title showing all the models, not just the top one with the dumb crazy cool and other 'cooling features' .

Actually its probably better if someone that has the actual board starts threads with genuine feedback.